If you are dealing with a parent's death or the death of another loved one — such as if you were named the executor of their will — then you might want to make sure that you handle everything properly. This can be hard for pretty much anyone to do during their time of grieving, but there are certain things that can make matters even more difficult, too. For example, if you live in another state, then you might need a little bit more help. Hiring a probate lawyer is often the best idea when you live in another state but have been named the executor of someone's will for these reasons and more.
You Might Not Be Familiar With the Laws
Even if you have served as an executor for someone else's estate before, you might not be completely — or at all — familiar with the laws in your recently deceased loved one's state. The way that estates are handled varies from state to state, however. Therefore, you will probably find that it's best for you to hire a probate lawyer who is familiar with the laws in your loved one's state. Then, you can make sure that all of the laws are followed properly when your loved one's estate is being handled. This is important since it can help you avoid any legal issues, problems with family members, and more.
Travel Might Be Inconvenient and Inexpensive
Multiple meetings and hearings might have to be had during the probate process, particularly if your loved one had a valuable estate or if there are a lot of family members involved. Although you might be planning on visiting the area for the funeral and although you may be willing to travel to the area at various stages during the probate process, the truth is that this type of travel can be inconvenient and inexpensive, especially if you have a family at home or if you are busy with your job. If you hire a probate lawyer in the area to help you, then you might find that you can really cut down on all of this travel while still ensuring your loved one's estate is being handled properly.
You May Not Be Close to Other Members of the Family
Serving as the executor for someone else's estate can be challenging when they might have other family members and loved ones who are wondering if they were listed in the will. You might not be particularly close to these individuals due to living in another state. Therefore, you might not feel totally comfortable discussing probate-related matters with these individuals directly. If you use the services of a probate lawyer, you can get help with these difficult conversations.
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